January 7, 2026 – A recent incident report highlights ongoing safety concerns with IKEA Malm chest of drawers, specifically regarding their known tip-over risk and alleged difficulties consumers face in returning recalled units. Despite a public recall, one consumer reported that IKEA North America Services, LLC, has been unresponsive to requests for pick-up, leaving unsafe dressers in homes even after a tipping incident occurred.
Product Details
Incident Overview
On July 8, 2025, an incident report was filed concerning IKEA’s Malm chest of drawers. The reporter explicitly stated that the product is widely known for being unsafe due to a significant tip-over risk. IKEA had previously issued a recall for these dressers, publicly committing to picking them up from consumers’ homes to mitigate the safety hazard.
However, the consumer reported that despite multiple attempts to contact the manufacturer, IKEA North America Services, LLC, failed to arrange for the pick-up of their Malm dressers. This lack of action left the unsafe furniture in their home, where it posed an “unacceptable risk.” The situation was exacerbated by the fact that the consumer had already experienced a tipping incident involving one of these dressers, directly prompting their decision to remove all Malm units from their home. The report indicates a profound frustration with IKEA’s alleged failure to follow through on its recall commitments, leaving consumers with a dangerous product that the company pledged to address.
Safety Concerns
The primary safety concern associated with the IKEA Malm chest of drawers is its instability, leading to a severe tip-over hazard.
- Immediate Dangers: When unanchored, these dressers can easily tip over if a child climbs on them, pulls out drawers, or even if an adult accidentally destabilizes them. This can result in crushing injuries, entrapment, and even suffocation. Historically, tip-over incidents involving Malm dressers have led to multiple child fatalities and severe injuries.
- Long-Term Risks: Survivors of dresser tip-overs may suffer from long-term physical disabilities, brain injuries, or psychological trauma. Families affected face emotional distress and significant medical expenses.
- Who Might Be Affected: Young children are particularly vulnerable to tip-over incidents as they are naturally curious and may attempt to climb furniture. However, anyone in the household, including adults, could be affected if the dresser tips during use or movement.
- Property Damage Potential: A tipping dresser can also cause significant property damage, including broken walls, damaged flooring, or harm to other furniture and household items in its path.
What Consumers Should Do
If you own an IKEA Malm chest of drawers or any other unanchored furniture, immediate action is crucial to prevent potential injuries.
- Immediate Steps to Take:
* Anchor Your Furniture: Immediately secure all dressers, chests, and other tall furniture to the wall using tip-over restraints. IKEA provides free wall-anchoring kits for recalled Malm dressers.
* Keep Out of Reach: If you cannot immediately anchor the dresser, move it to a room inaccessible to children.
* Remove Temptations: Keep heavy items in bottom drawers and avoid placing attractive items (like toys, remotes, or snacks) on top of dressers where children might try to reach them.
- How to Check if You Own the Affected Product: Confirm if your dresser is an IKEA Malm model. For recalled items, contact IKEA or visit the CPSC website for specific model identification and recall details.
- Prevention Measures: Always use tip-over restraints for all furniture taller than 23 inches. Supervise children in rooms with furniture and educate them about the dangers of climbing.
- Reporting Procedures: If you experience an incident with a tipping dresser or are having difficulty with a recall resolution, report it to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) at www.SaferProducts.gov. Also, continue to contact IKEA’s customer service for recall assistance.
Manufacturer’s Response
IKEA North America Services, LLC, provided a response to the incident report on December 23, 2025 – several months after the initial incident report date of July 8, 2025. The manufacturer stated: “Thank you for providing your name and contact information. We understand that you previously contacted IKEA, and we’re pleased to inform you that IKEA Customer Service has now reached out to your concern.” This response indicates an acknowledgment of the consumer’s repeated attempts to contact them and an assurance that customer service has subsequently made contact.
Legal Help Available
If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product or suffered property damage due to a product malfunction, you may be entitled to compensation. The experienced product liability attorneys at Farzan Law understand the complexities of defective product cases and can help you navigate the legal process.
Contact us today for a free consultation: 424-325-3112
Our legal team has successfully represented clients in product liability cases involving defective appliances, automotive defects, medical devices, and consumer products. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay unless we win your case.
Note: This information is based on incident reports provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. If you find information that is incorrect, please contact us immediately so we can correct the post to reflect accurate information.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is not intended to be legal or medical advice. This article is based on publicly available incident reports. The incidents mentioned have not necessarily been independently verified or adjudicated.